5 Top International News Stories
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suspected of attempting to trigger an escalation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, as part of efforts to disrupt or delay the parliamentary elections scheduled for the end of this year. The allegation, as reported by Middle East Monitor on Monday (24/8/2026), was reported by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, citing assessments among senior Israeli military officials.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States is feeling frustrated after various military and economic pressure campaigns against Tehran repeatedly failed. Araghchi mocked the latest move described by US President Donald Trump as a ‘crippling economic operation’, calling it merely a ‘recycled old scenario’ from Washington’s longstanding policies towards Tehran. Araghchi stressed that Iran already understands how to deal with it.
The United States government suddenly cancelled a joint marine exercise with South Korea scheduled for next month. The cancellation, as reported by Reuters on Monday (24/8/2026), was announced by the South Korean Marine Corps in a statement released on Monday (24/8) local time, after the US cited limitations on its forces due to the war against Iran. The joint marine exercise was said to involve amphibious landing drills participated in by personnel from the marines of both allied countries.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to carry out targeted killings and evacuate residential areas in the Gaza Strip, in response to the launching of balloons and kites from the territory towards Israeli settlements. He accused Hamas of being behind the launches. In recent days, as reported by Anadolu Agency and TRT World on Monday (24/8/2026), local Israeli media reported a number of kites launched from the Gaza Strip landing near Israeli settlements bordering the territory.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned various countries of ‘consequences’ if they participate in the United States’ economic operation against the country. Tehran authorities stressed their determination to resist the sanctions through multilateral capabilities. The warning to countries cooperating with the US, as reported by AFP and Reuters on Monday (24/8/2026), was delivered by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.